Toddler left on bus nearly 3 hours in St. Clair

Jaxson Edwards was left on a school bus for nearly three hours Wednesday (Credit: Family Photo)

ST. CLAIR, Mo. (KMOV.com) -

The St. Clair R-XIII School District is investigating to determine how a 3-year old was left on a bus for nearly 3 hours Wednesday. The toddler attends an afternoon preschool program.

Melissa Edwards told News 4 her son, Jaxson, didn't want to go to school Thursday and cried when she dropped him off.

"It's unbelievable, I don't understand how this happens," said Edwards.

Superintendent Kyle Kruse said the regular bus driver was driving the route that day and he doesn't know how the driver overlooked the boy.

"The main thing is we have procedures that should have prevented this and they weren't effective or effectively followed and we're going to find that out. We are very, very upset and just thankful this child's okay," said Kruse.

Jaxson's grandmother, Donna Bunch, said the superintendent apologized when she and her daughter met with him. Edwards said she believes the district is sincerely trying to make sure this doesn't happen again.

Bunch added that she was glad this didn't happen in the summertime or the middle of winter.

"It could have turned out so much worse, it could have turned out so much worse and I'm thanking God that it did not," said Bunch.

Scott Heatherly, 50, of Arnold, is charged with second-degree assault and first and second-degree property damage. Arnold Police say the charges stem from an assault which appears to have been brought on by road rage Friday night and was caught on surveillance camera.

Scott Heatherly, 50, of Arnold, is charged with second-degree assault and first and second-degree property damage. Arnold Police say the charges stem from an assault which appears to have been brought on by road rage Friday night and was caught on surveillance camera.